Bloomy tops Rudy in battle of the titans

Michael Bloomberg is not only a better mayor of New York than Rudy Giuliani - he'd make a better President, too.

That's the result of a Daily News poll released today that asked the voters who know best - New Yorkers - which man belongs in the White House.

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City voters overwhelmingly chose Mayor Mike over America's Mayor as their pick for President, 46% to 29%.

"I feel in my heart Bloomberg is a better man," said Jaen Garcia, 53, of Highbridge, the Bronx.

Bloomberg insists he's not running for President, even though he has dropped more than a few tantalizing clues, including traveling around the country, pushing national policy changes and reviving his Web site.

If he decided to enter the race - most likely as an independent - Bloomberg and his billions could cast a huge shadow.

But whether he's willing to take on GOP front-runner Giuliani remains to be seen. Giuliani enjoys a national reputation as the man who cleaned up New York and held the country together in the devastating weeks and months after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

Here at home, though, it's a different story, The News' survey shows.

Some 56% of voters said Bloomberg has been as the more effective mayor, and 29% picked Giuliani. An additional 10% ranked them about the same, and 5% didn't know.

"I like that everything Bloomberg said he is going to do for the city, he did. There are more charter schools and I like that," said Sharran Roberts, a 30-year-old mother from Bushwick, Brooklyn.

"[Giuliani] did over his wife, he did over [New Yorkers] and he is not going to do it with the country," Roberts said.

Blum & Weprin Associates surveyed 503 registered voters in a Bloomberg-Giuliani showdown and the 2009 mayoral race for The News. The survey has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.5 percentage points.

In the poll, Bloomberg trounces Giuliani among every demographic group as a better mayor and potential President except Republicans and voters under age 30.

"I'd vote for them as a presidential team, but egos get in the way," said Dan Ricciardi, a 54-year-old doctor from Brooklyn Heights. "[Bloomberg] is more of an elitist, but he is an excellent mayor."

The survey found Giuliani's biggest weakness as mayor was with African-Americans, where he trailed Bloomberg by 64% to 20%.

"Giuliani was a very hostile person to the African-American community," said Michael Lewis, a 58-year-old African-American from the upper West Side. "I don't particularly like Bloomberg, either, but he is less rigid."

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Not surprisingly, Bloomberg's greatest vote of confidence for President came from the richest voters - those earning more than $100,000 annually - who prefer him, 61% to 31%.

"I just see [Bloomberg] as a better person," said Susan Gershen, a 63-year-old upper West Sider. "And I'd be interested in what he has to say if he runs for President.